Jim Porter | Stay: Home, safe, healthy, strong and alive

By Jim Porter, Publisher and CEO of The Repository

Sunday

Apr 5, 2020 at 5:02 AM

It isn’t always easy but we can save lives by following a simple rule: STAY.

At a time when we could use some humor, I spent a good part of the week trying to write a column that would put a smile on people’s faces. Unfortunately, I was not able to come up with a humorous column. Instead, I kept coming back to one word: Stay.

S-T-A-Y.

A simple four-letter word. One that I often use on our dog Paisley.

I say, “Paisley, stay,” and off she goes. This after we sent her to a trainer, not once but twice, and yet she still takes off. The girls laugh at me.

For a period of time I thought it was me. Maybe it was the way I was projecting my voice. Maybe I wasn’t being authoritative enough. Maybe she just doesn’t get me.

But I was not giving up, and over the past three years I have tried many different voice variations. None worked.

Paisley is a good dog. Notice I did not say a “very” good dog. (I chose my words carefully there.) But after three years I have come to accept she is not going to understand the word “stay.”

I’m hoping we humans do.

We are using the word “stay” in many ways these days.

Stay home.

Stay safe.

Stay healthy.

Stay strong.

Breaking down those four phrases is very important in today’s world.

The first two give us a better chance to realize the second two.

In my house, It is not only Paisley who struggles with the word “stay.” Regardless of the tone in my voice, I find that some members of my own family find a reason to get out. This concerns me deeply.

“Outing” them in this column seems harsh, but it might save their lives, or mine, or my parents’, or even a stranger’s. This virus is very dangerous, my friends.

My family members are far from the only rule-breakers. Too many people are going to stores for non-essential reasons. We see pictures of kids at beaches in the warmer states. Parks have become a popular place to congregate.

Some readers might recall that I revealed in a previous column I underwent major surgery at the end of January. Complications kept me in the hospital for nine days, followed by several more weeks of recovery in bed at home. Just when I got to the point where I felt good enough to venture out, this virus started making its way to the United States. So, for the most part, I have been isolated in either a hospital or in my home for most of the past nine weeks. I absolutely understand the frustration that comes with being “cooped up.”

I do a pretty good job of staying in. And it can be boring at times. I do it because I love my wife and kids. I love life. Heck, I love the Cleveland Browns, and I want to be alive when they win that long-awaited Super Bowl.

While staying in, I have become accustomed to awesome family dinners, playing family games, getting “to know” my daughters as they are home a lot more (but still not enough). Also, I have noticed some bad habits creeping in. While working from home, the first three conference calls of the day are usually made from my bed. I have put on some weight, as I visit the pantry way too often. The showers still happen daily, but more often about 3 o’clock instead of first thing in the morning.

I have time to fix all three of those “bad habits.” Matter of fact, I have a lot of time to fix them. But I won’t have the time, if my time is up. Another reason I stay home.